Passive mattress spinner and methods

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for facilitating rotation of a mattress in a horizontal plane carried by a box spring or a platform. In order to facilitate rotation, slick surfaces between the mattress and the box spring or platform are selectively placed in engagement with each other, in one embodiment of the invention. The slick surfaces may be provided by two (2) separate covers; one cover for the mattress and one cover for the box spring, platform or bed skirt. One cover is provided with a slick and non-slick surface. The other cover may be the same as the first cover or may have slick surfaces on two sides. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, one of the covers may be provided as a protective cover that encapsulates the entire mattress. In another alternate embodiment, one cover may be provided that cooperates with a slick surface that is integrally provided on one or the other of the mattress or box spring or platform. In yet another alternate embodiment of the invention, slick surfaces may be provided on both the mattress and the box spring or platform. In this embodiment, in order to prevent movement of the mattress with respect to the box spring or platform, the mattress is secured relative to the box spring or platform by removable fasteners in a normal mode of operation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/420,778, filed Jan. 31, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/594,651, filed Jan. 12, 2015, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 13/284,182, filed Oct. 28, 2011, which issuedon Feb. 24, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,959,675, which is a continuation ofSer. No. 12/772,386 filed on May 3, 2010, each of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for facilitating the rotationof a top mattress in a horizontal plane with respect to a box spring orlower mattress and more particularly to a system which allows rotationof a top mattress in a horizontal plane with minimal effort in order torelocate worn or depressed portions of the mattress in order to even outthe overall wear of the mattress.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional bed includes a box spring or bottom mattress and an uppermattress. The box spring is normally carried by a bed frame which, inturn, carries a top mattress, which ends up being suspended about 13-16inches from the floor. The top mattress (hereinafter “mattress”) may beplaced on top of the box spring or alternatively placed upon a platformforming a platform bed. In both applications, the mattress is held inplace by friction and its weight.

Various types of mattresses are known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos.7,617,556 and 7,644,671 disclose conventional mattresses. Suchconventional mattresses include a “casing” which is formed from materialfor holding the internal components of the mattress. The casing includesa bottom panel and four (4) vertical panels connected to the peripheryof the bottom panel forming an open top container. In one suchconventional mattress, a spring core is disposed in the container andrests against the bottom floor and fits snugly against the verticalpanels. One or more layers of foam padding is placed on top of thespring core and covered with a top cover which is secured to thevertical panels.

In other known mattresses, a foam core is used in place of the springcore. Other known mattresses are known to include a so-called‘pillow-top”. The pillow top is generally formed as a comforter securedto the top cover and filled with cotton or some type of fibrousmaterial.

A problem with the various types of mattresses, as discussed above , isthat over time the mattress materials lose their resiliency causing bodydepressions to develop. In order to even out the wear in the mattress,it is known to rotate the mattress in the horizontal plane to relocatethe body depressions, as shown for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Dependingon the size of the mattress, one or two people may be required to rotatethe mattress. For example, king and queen size mattresses may likelyrequire two people to rotate the mattress, as shown in FIG. 1, whilefull and twin size mattresses can likely be rotated by a single person,as shown in FIG. 2.

Mattresses are relatively heavy items. The weight of a mattress variesas a function of the coil core, the gauge of the coil and the type offoam material used. An average king size mattress weighs between 85 and115 pounds. High end king size mattresses with latex or memory foam canweigh as much as 300 pounds (http://www.mattressdirectonline.com).

In order to rotate a mattress, the mattress must first be lifted andthen rotated, As such, rotating a mattress is hard work. Depending onthe weight of the mattress, rotating a mattress can be virtuallyimpossible for some people, such as senior citizens, as well as peoplethat are handicapped or disabled and others.

In order to address this problem, mattresses with removable pillow topshave been developed. An example of such a mattress is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,414,882. The '882 patent discloses a mattress with a pillowtop that is secured to the top cover of the mattress by way of a zipper.With such a configuration, the pillow top can be relatively easilyrotated by unzipping the pillow top, rotating it and zipping the pillowtop back in place. While such a configuration enables body depressionsin the pillow top to be relocated, it has no affect on body depressionsthat result in the mattress itself. Thus there is a need for a system tofacilitate rotation of a mattress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention relates to a system for facilitatingrotation of a mattress in a horizontal plane carried by a box spring ora platform. In order to facilitate rotation, slick surfaces between themattress and the box spring or platform are selectively placed inengagement with each other. In one embodiment of the invention, theslick surfaces may be provided by two (2) separate covers; one for themattress and one for the box spring or platform. One cover is providedwith a slick and non-slick surface. The other cover is provided with atleast one slick side and may have two slick sides. In an alternateembodiment, one cover may be a protective cover that encapsulates theentire mattress and permanently exposes a slick surface relative to thebox spring or platform. Alternatively, one cover may be provided thatcooperates with a slick surface that is integrally provided on one orthe other of the mattress or box spring or platform. In an alternateembodiment of the invention, slick surfaces may be provided on both themattress and the box spring or platform. In this embodiment, in order toprevent movement of the mattress with respect to the box spring orplatform, the mattress is secured relative to the box spring or platformby removable fasteners in a normal mode of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other advantages of the present invention will be readilyunderstood with reference to the following specification and attacheddrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing illustrating two people lifting aconventional mattress carried by a box spring in an attempt to rotatethe mattress in a horizontal plane.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one person rotating a conventionalmattress carried by a box spring, shown with the mattress partiallyrotated.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of one embodiment of the inventionillustrating a conventional box spring and a conventional mattress andtwo covers in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 illustrating one of the covers shown in FIG.3 installed on the mattress and one cover installed on the box spring.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3, partially in section, illustrating one of the coversinstalled on the mattress and one cover installed on the box spring andshown in a rotate configuration in which the slick surfaces of the twocovers are in contact with each other, securing the bed skirt intoposition prior to rotating.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of an application of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 3-5 in which the bottom cover is to be placed overa bed skirt on the box spring.

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view of the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 6, shown with one of the covers installed on the mattress andthe other cover installed over the bed skirt on the box springillustrating a rotate configuration in which both slick surfaces are incontact with each other while the bed skirt is held in place.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 but shown with both covers installed on themattress, illustrating a normal configuration in which a non slicksurface of the bottom cover is in contact with the surface of the bedskirt.

FIG. 9 is an alternative application of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 6-8 in which the bed skirt is used to hide both covers in a normalconfiguration, shown in a rotation configuration.

FIG. 10 is a partial elevational view of the application illustrated inFIG. 9 in a normal configuration in which the bed skirt is pulled downover the box spring hiding both of the covers.

FIG. 11 is a partial elevational view of the box spring illustrated inFIG. 10′, partially in section, shown in a normal configuration.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of one person rotating a conventionalmattress, carried by a platform, shown with the mattress partiallyrotated.

FIG. 13 is an alternate embodiment of the invention in which slicksurfaces are integrated into the mattress and box spring, shown with themattress removed from the box spring and fastener strips integrated intothe corners of the mattress and box spring.

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13 but shown with the mattress placed on thebox spring illustrating integrated fastener strips aligned with oneanother.

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14, illustrating cooperating removablefastener strips attached to the integrated fastener strips in order tosecure the mattress to the box spring.

FIG. 16 is a partial elevational view illustrating one corner of amattress disposed on a box spring illustrating integrated fastenerstrips aligned on each of the box spring and mattress, shown with acooperating removable fastener strip removed.

FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16 but shown with the cooperating removablefastener strip attached to the integrated fastener strips on themattress and box spring.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of an alternative fastener configurationfor securing the mattress to the box spring, illustrating a mattressdisposed on a box spring in which the integrated fastener is disposedaround the periphery of the box spring and the mattress.

FIG. 19 is similar to FIG. 18 but shown with a cooperating removablefastener strip attached to the integrated fastener strips on themattress and the box spring.

FIG. 20 is similar to FIG. 19 but illustrating a bed skirt whichincorporates a removable fastening strip attached to the integratedfastening strips on the mattress and box spring.

FIG. 21 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a two cover embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 3-5 in which the mattress cover is a protectivecover having at least one slick surface, shown with the protective coverremoved from the mattress and the mattress suspended relative to the boxspring.

FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 21 but shown with the protective coverinstalled on the mattress.

FIG. 23a is a partial isometric view of a material blank for use as acover with the present invention, shown with fold lines on adjacentedges and an obtuse angle cut-out at one corner.

FIG. 23b is similar to FIG. 23a but illustrating an elastic materialjoining the strips defined by the fold lines and bridging the cut-out.

FIG. 24a is similar to FIG. 24a but illustrates a cut-out at other thanan obtuse angle.

FIG. 24b illustrates the material blank illustrated in FIG. 24a with anintegrated fastener strip on the strips defined by the fold lines shownwith a cooperating removable fastener strip partially attached to theintegrated fastener strip.

FIG. 24c is similar to FIG. 24b but shown with the cooperating removablefastener strip completely attached to the integrated fastener strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to system for facilitating rotation of atop mattress in a horizontal plane. In general, slick surfaces betweenthe mattress and the box spring or platform are selectively placed inengagement with each other. In particular, the invention relies on areduced friction co-efficient between the box spring or platform and themattress to facilitate rotation of the mattress in a horizontal plane.In one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-11, theslick surfaces may be provided by two (2) separate covers; one cover forthe mattress and one cover for the box spring or platform. One cover isprovided with a slick and non-slick side. The other cover is providedwith at least one slick side and may have two slick sides. In analternate embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, one cover may be aprotective cover that encapsulates the entire mattress and permanentlyexposes a slick surface relative to the box spring or platform. Inanother alternate embodiment, one cover may be provided that cooperateswith a slick surface that is integrally provided on one or the other ofthe mattress or box spring or platform. In yet another alternateembodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 12-20, slick surfaces maybe provided on both the mattress and the box spring or platform. In thisembodiment, in order to prevent movement of the mattress with respect tothe box spring or platform, the mattress is secured relative to the boxspring or platform by removable fasteners in a normal mode of operation.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-11 and 21-22, two (2) coversare provided which enable slick surfaces between the mattress and thebox spring or platform to be selectively placed in contact with eachother to reduce the normal friction therebetween to enable the mattressto be rotated in a horizontal plane without lifting the mattress.Alternate embodiments, operate on the same principle but require onlyone separate cover that cooperates with a stick surface integrated intoone or the other of the mattress or box spring or mattress. In yet otherembodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-20, the slicksurfaces on the mattress and box spring or platform are constantly inengagement with each other when the mattress is placed on top of the boxspring or platform. In these embodiments, one or more fasteners are usedto secure the mattress to the box spring or platform to preventunintended movement therebetween in a normal mode of operation.

Referring first to FIGS. 3-5, the invention comprises a first cover 20and a second cover 22. The covers 20 and 22 each include a rectangularpanel 24 and 26, respectively, configured to the size of a mattress 28and a box spring 30. Each of the covers 20, 22 includes a stretchableband 32, 34, attached to the periphery of the panels 24, 26respectively. The bands 32, 34, allow the covers 20, 22 be removablysecured to the mattress 28 and the box spring 30, as generally shown inFIG. 4.

The bands 32, 34 may be formed from an elastic material, for example,spandex and other stretchable materials, such as mesh or an elasticbandina and attached to the panels 24, 26 respectively, for example, bysewing. Alternatively, the bands 32, 34 can be formed from a mesh orstretchable fabric. The bands 32, 34 can be formed from the samematerial as the panels 24, 26 and secured to the mattress 28 and boxspring or platform 30 by way of a drawstring (not shown) or otherattachment method.

The bands 32 and 34 may also be formed by less labor intensive methods,as illustrated in FIGS. 23a-23b and FIGS. 24a -24 c. The methodsillustrated in these figures, reduce the amount of sewing and thus thelabor involved. For simplicity, only one cover 20 is described andillustrated. Referring first to FIGS. 23a and 23b , one corner of acover blank, generally identified with the reference numeral 21, isillustrated for simplicity. The cover blank is formed as a generallyrectangular piece of material with fold lines, generally identified withthe reference numeral 23, adjacent to each edge of the rectangular pieceof material. As shown in FIG. 23a , a piece of material is cut out ofeach corner defining, for example, an obtuse angle. The cut-out isidentified with the reference numeral 25. The bands 32′ are folded downas shown in FIG. 23b . A piece of flexible material, such as elastic,identified with the reference number 27, is used to bridge the cut-out25. The flexible material 27 is secured to the ends of the contiguousbands 32′. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art,the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 23a and 23b significantly reducesthe labor costs.

A second technique to reduce labor costs is illustrated in FIGS. 24a -24c. In this embodiment, the corners of the material blank 21′ are cut toform a cut-out 25′ that is not an obtuse angle. The exemplary cut-out25′ is shown at roughly a 90 degree angle. In this embodiment, afastener strip 29 is affixed to each end of the band 32′, adjacent thecut-out 25′. A cooperating removable fastener strip 31 may be attachedto the fastener strips 29 to secure the adjacent bands 32″ together. Thefastener strips 29 and 31 may be Velcro or other type of fastener. Theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 24a-24c allows the material blank 21′ tobe juxtaposed over the mattress 28 or box spring 30 with the removablefastener strips 31, as least partially removed , for example, as shownin FIG. 24b . and secured to the exposed cooperating fastener strip 29,once the cover 20 is in place, as shown in FIG. 24 c.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, one cover 20,22 has a “slick” side having a relatively low co-efficient of frictionand a non-slick side having a relatively higher co-efficient offriction. The other cover 20, 22 has at least one slick side and mayhave two slick sides. As such, when the slick surfaces of the two covers20, 22 are selectively placed in contact with each other, the mattress28 can be rotated in a horizontal plane with minimal effort by oneperson in a configuration defining a rotate mode of operation, asdiscussed in more detail below. The non-slick side is used toselectively be placed in contact with an uncovered surface of themattress 28 or an uncovered surface of the box spring 30 or platform orbed skirt. The non-slick side provides a relatively high co-efficient offriction when in contact with either an uncovered surface of the boxspring 30 or an uncovered surface of the mattress 28 or bed skirt (FIG.6) or platform (FIG. 12) in order to reduce if not prevent unintendedrotation of the mattress in a normal configuration.

Various materials, such as cloth, and other materials that are bendableand amenable to being folded and stored in relatively small packages,are suitable for the panels 24, 26 for the covers 20, 22. The materialfor one cover 20, 22 need only have a slick side and a non-slick side.The non-slick side can be created on one side of a slick material by wayof a coating or sewing or fusing a non-slick backing to one side of thenon-slick material. Various conventionally available materials aresuitable for the cover having a slick side and a non-slick side. Forexample, “20 Denier Heat Sealable (backside) 100% Nylon Rip Stop”material is suitable for use with the present invention or othermaterials with similar coefficients of friction on the slick andnon-slick sides. Such material may be nylon, for example, 100% nylonwith a coating on one side, for example, urethane or other thermalplastic or heat sealable coating Such nylon rip stop material is knownto come in widths of 58-62 inches wide and weighs about 1.9 to 4.4ounces per square yard. Such material can easily be pieced together toaccommodate various mattress widths if necessary.

Nylon rip stop material suitable for use with the-present invention isavailable from various sources, such as, Quest Outfitters of Sarasota,Fla. (http://questoutfitters.com). Their nylon taffeta material isdescribed in detail at http://questoutfitters.com/coated.html#HEATSEALABLE, hereby incorporated by reference. Suitable nylon taffetamaterial is also available from Rockywoods in Loveland, Colo.(http://www.rockywoods.com). Their nylon taffeta material is describedin detail athttp://www.rockywoods.com/Fabrics-Hardware-Patterns-Kits/Medium-Weight-Nylon-Fabrics/Heat-Sealable-70-Denier-Nylon-Taffeta,hereby incorporated by reference.

Non-woven materials may also be used for the cover 20, 22 having a slickside and a non-slick side. For example, Tyvek® polyethylene non-wovenfabric, as manufactured by the DuPont Corporation and described indetail at http://www2.dupont.com/Products and Services/en VN/nwn.htmlmay be used, Other materials having two slick sides can also be used,such as, silicone impregnated nylon rip stop, for example, as availablefrom Seattle Fabrics, Inc., http://www.seattlefabrics.com/nylons.html,Other materials can also be used with a coating applied to one side.Moreover, different materials can be used for each cover in anapplication.

Referring to FIG. 4, a first cover 20 is attached to the undersidemattress 28 so that its non-slick side is in contact with the mattress28 and its slick side is facing downwardly. Similarly, the cover 22 isattached to the box spring 30 so that its non-slick side is in contactwith the box spring 30 and its slick side is facing upwardly.Alternatively, the covers 20, 22 may be provided with two slick sides Insuch an embodiment, one slick side is in contact with the mattress 28,box spring 30, respectively, and the other slick side is facingdownwardly or upwardly, respectively. When the mattress 28 is thenbrought into contact with the box spring 30, as generally illustrated inFIG. 5, the slick sides of the covers 20 and 22 will be in contact witheach other, enabling the mattress 28 to be rotated in a horizontalposition with reduced effort by a single person defining a rotate modeof operation.

Once the mattress 28 has been rotated and is in the desired position,the top cover 20 may be detached from the mattress 28 and attached tothe box spring 30 over the cover 22. This places the non-slick side ofthe cover 20 in contact with an uncovered surface of the mattress 28,thereby reducing unintended rotation of the mattress 28 with respect tothe box spring 30. In this configuration, both covers 20 and 22 areattached to the box spring 30. Alternatively, in embodiments in whicheach of the covers has a slick side and a non-slick side, once themattress 28 is in the desired position, the bottom cover 22 can bedetached from the box spring 30 and attached to the mattress 28 over thecover 20, exposing the non-slick side of the cover 22 to the box spring30. In this configuration, both covers 20 and 22 are attached to themattress 30.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate operation of the covers 20 and 22 in an applicationin which a bed skirt 36 is draped over the box spring 30, as generallyshown in FIG. 6. Heretofore rotation of a mattress 28 with a bed skirt36 draped over the box spring 30 was a relatively cumbersome task. Thepresent invention greatly simplifies rotation of the mattress 28 in suchan application while keeping the bed skirt 36 in place.

More specifically, in this application, the first cover 20 is attachedto the underside of the mattress 28 so that its slick side is facingdownward and its non-slick side (or alternatively its second slick side)is in contact with the mattress 28. The second cover 22 is attached tothe box spring 30 over the bed skirt 36 so that its non-slick side is incontact with the bed skirt 36 and its slick side is facing upward,thereby placing the slick sides of the covers 20 and 22 in contact witheach other, as shown in FIG. 7. The mattress 28 can then be rotated withreduced effort , as generally illustrated in FIG. 12. After the mattress28 is rotated to the desired position, the cover 22 is detached from thebox spring 30 and attached to the mattress 28 over the cover 20, asshown in FIG. 8. This places the non-slick side of the cover 22 incontact with the bed skirt 36 to reduce if not prevent unintendedrotation of the mattress 28. As shown in FIG. 8, the bed skirt 36 isuncovered and undisturbed since the cover 22 holds the bed skirt 36 inplace during the rotation of the mattress 28.

FIGS. 9-11 are similar to FIGS. 6-8 and illustrate another applicationin which the bed skirt is used to hide the first and second covers 20and 22 in a normal configuration. Referring to FIG. 9, the bed skirt 36is disposed around the mattress 28 so that its finished side is incontact with the mattress 28 and its unfinished side is facingoutwardly. The first cover 20 is attached to the mattress 28 over thebed skirt 36 so that its non-slick side is in contact with the bed skirt36 and its slick side is facing downwardly. The second cover 22 Isattached to the box spring 30 so that its non-slick side is in contactwith the box spring 30 and its slick side is facing upwardly, thusplacing the slick sides of the first and second covers 20 and 22 incontact with each other. The mattress 28 can then be rotated in ahorizontal plane virtually effortlessly by one person. Once the mattress28 is in the desired position, the first cover 20 is detached from themattress 28 and attached to the box spring 30, over the second cover 22,as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. This places the non-slick side of the firstcover 20 in contact with the mattress 28, thereby reducing unintendedrotation of the mattress 28. Once the first cover 20 is attached to thebox spring 30, the bed skirt 36 is folded down over the box spring 30,thereby hiding both the first and second covers 20 and 22, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate an embodiment in which the first cover isreplaced with a protective cover 40, such as a protective cover, thatencapsulates the mattress 28. The protective cover 40 is to size andshape of the mattress 28 to provide a relatively snug fit. An opening 42is provided along one edge of the protective cover 40 to enable themattress 28 to be placed inside the protective cover 40. A conventionalfastener, such as a zipper 44 may be used to close the opening 42. Inthis embodiment, one surface 46 of the cover 40 is provided with a slicksurface 46. The mattress 28 and cover 40 is configured so that the slicksurface 46 faces the box spring 30. The slick surface 46 of the cover 40cooperates with the cover 22 attached to the box spring 30 to facilitaterotation of the covered mattress 28 in a rotate mode. The cover 22 is asdescribed above with a slick surface and a non-slick surface. Moreparticularly, in a rotate mode of operation, the cover 22 is attached tothe box spring 30 so that its non-slick surface is in contact with thebox spring 30 and the slick surface faces upwardly in order to contactthe slick surface of the protective cover 40. In this mode, the mattress28 can be rotated with reduced effort in a horizontal plane. Once themattress 28 has been rotated to the desired position, the cover 22 isattached to the mattress 28 causing its non-slick surface to be incontact with the box spring 30.

In addition to the embodiments discussed above which require two covers,alternate embodiments are discussed below which require only one cover.For example, one of the covers 20, 22 may be eliminated and a slicksurface incorporated into the mattress 28 or box spring 30. Fordiscussion, assume that the box spring 30 includes an integral slicksurface facing upwardly and is configured to contact the mattress 28. Inthis embodiment, a coyer 20 as described above is attached to theunderside of the mattress 28 such that the slick surface facesdownwardly and the non-stick surface is in contact with the underside ofthe mattress 28. In a rotate mode of operation, the slick surface of thecover 20 is in contact with the slick surface integrally formed in thebox spring 30. Once the mattress 28 is rotated and in the desiredlocation, the cover 20 is attached to the box spring 30 so that the twoslick surfaces are in contact with each other and the non-slick surfaceis in contact with underside of the mattress 28 defining a normal modeof operation.

The embodiments discussed above are based on the use of one or morecovers which can be selectively configured in a rotate mode of operationor alternatively a normal mode of operation. In the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 13-20, there are no covers. In these embodiments,slick surfaces 50 and 52 are integrally provided on the mattress 28 andbox spring 30, respectively. In particular, as best shown in FIG. 13,the mattress 28 is formed with an integral slick surface 50 on it isunderside. Similarly, the box spring 30 can be formed with Integralslick surface 52 facing upwardly. As such, when the mattress 28 isproperly placed on the box spring 30, the slick surfaces 50 and 52 arein contact with each other. In such a configuration, the mattress 28 canbe freely rotated with respect to the box spring 30.

In order to prevent movement of the mattress 28 with respect to the boxspring 30 in a normal mode of operation, fastener systems , for example,Velcro fasteners , may be provided on the corners of both the mattress28 and the box spring 30. In particular, permanent fastener strips 54are provided on the corners of the mattress 28, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14and 16. Similarly, permanent fastener strips 56 are provided on thecorners of the box spring 30. As shown in FIGS. 13, 4 and 16, when themattress 28 is correctly aligned with the box spring 30, the permanentfastener strips 54 are aligned with the permanent fastener strips 56. inorder to secure the mattress 28 relative to the box spring 30, removablecooperating fastener strips 58 are selectively attached to the permanentfastener strips 54 and 56 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17 defining a normalmode of operation. The removable fastener strips 58 are simply removedin order to rotate the mattress 28 and replaced once the mattress 28 hasbeen rotated.

Two alternate embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 18-20. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, permanent fastener strips 60and 62 are located around the peripheries of the mattress 28 and the boxspring 30, adjacent to the edges where the mattress 28 and the boxspring 30 come together, as shown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 19, acooperating removable fastener strip 64 is attached to the permanentfastener strips 60 and 62 on the mattress 28 and box spring 30,respectively. In yet another alternate embodiment as shown in FIG. 20,the cooperating removable fastener strip 64 may be affixed to the insideof a bed skirt 68. With such a configuration, not only are the mattress28 and box spring 30 secured together, the configuration also allows abed skirt 66 to be easily installed.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. For example, forrelatively light weight mattresses, a single cover can be used witheither two (2) slick sides or one slick side and one non-slick side. Insuch an embodiment, the invention relies on the inherent surfaceroughness of either the mattress 28 or box spring 30. In an embodimentwith a cover having two slick surfaces, the cover is attached to eitherthe mattress 28 or the box spring 30 and remains in place during both arotate mode and a normal mode. In an embodiment of the invention with acover having a slick side and a non-slick side, the cover is attached toeither the mattress 28 or the box spring 30 so that the slick side facesoutwardly and contacts the other of mattress 28 or the box spring 30 ina rotate mode of operation. In a normal mode of operation, the cover isattached to the other of the mattress 28 or the box spring 30 so thatits non-slick side faces outwardly and contacts the inherent surfaceroughness of the mattress 28 or the box spring 30. Thus, it is to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by a Letters Patent of theUnited States is:
 1. A method for facilitating rotation of a mattresswhile being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a coverhaving a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on anopposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least oneband attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, thecover disposed between a top side of a box spring or platform and anunderside of said mattress so that its slick surface is in contact witha surface on the underside of said mattress , the method comprising thesteps of: (a) disposing said at least one band so as to be adjacent tothe sides of said box spring or platform; and (b) rotating saidmattress.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said surface onsaid underside of said mattress is a slick surface that is embedded inthe underside of said mattress.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said cover is a protective cover that encapsulates said mattresshaving a slick surface adjacent the underside of said mattress.
 4. Themethod as recited in claim 2, further including an additional coverwherein said slick surface on said underside of said mattress is formedon one side of said additional cover.
 5. The method as recited in claim1, further including the step of preventing unintended rotation of saidmattress after the mattress has been rotated relative to the box springor platform.
 6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step ofpreventing unintended rotation includes the step of: disposing said atleast one band of said first cover so that it is disposed adjacent thesides of the mattress.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein thestep of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of: attachingsaid at least one band of said cover to a side of said mattress.
 8. Themethod as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of preventing unintendedrotation includes the step of: securing said mattress to said box springor platform.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step ofpreventing unintended rotation includes the step of: securing saidmattress to said box spring or platform by way of at least one fastener.10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposing stepincludes the step of removably attaching said at least one band of saidcover to the sides of said box spring or platform.
 11. A method forfacilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a boxspring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one sideand a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said cover furthercomprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portionof the periphery of said panel, said cover disposed between a top sideof a box spring or platform and an underside of said mattress so thatits slick surface of said cover is in contact with a surface on the topside of said box spring or platform, the method comprising the steps of:(a) disposing said at least one band so as to be adjacent to the sidesof said mattress; and (b) rotating said mattress.
 12. The method asrecited in claim 11, wherein said surface on the top side of said boxspring or platform is a slick surface that is embedded in the top sideof said box spring or platform.
 13. The method as recited in claim 11,wherein said slick surface on the top side of said box spring orplatform is part of a protective cover that encapsulates said box springor platform.
 14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said slicksurface on the top side of said box spring or platform is formed on oneside of an additional cover.
 15. The method as recited in claim 11,further including the step of preventing unintended rotation after themattress has been rotated relative to the box spring or platform. 16.The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of preventingunintended rotation includes the step of: disposing said at least oneband of said cover so that it is disposed adjacent a side of saidmattress.
 17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step ofpreventing unintended rotation includes the step of: attaching said atleast one band of said cover to a side of said mattress.
 18. The methodas recited in claim 15, wherein the step of preventing unintendedrotation includes the step of: securing said mattress to said box springor platform.
 19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the step ofpreventing unintended rotation includes the step of: securing saidmattress to said box spring or platform by way of at least one fastener.20. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said disposing stepincludes the step of removably attaching said at least one band of saidcover to the side of said box spring or platform.